Street racing has been identified as the key factor in the fatal crash earlier this month that resulted in the deaths of five teens, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.
20-year-old Emanuel Rene Esfahani, of Lawrenceville, was arrested yesterday in connection to the fatal crash that occurred on the exit ramp from State Route 316 to Pleasant Hill Road.
Esfahani turned himself into the Gwinnett County Jail on September 26, facing multiple charges. These include five counts of homicide by vehicle – first degree, one for each teen killed, as well as reckless driving, racing, speeding, unsafe lane change, and a seatbelt required violation.
According to police, Esfahani was driving an Infiniti G35 and was racing against a Toyota Tacoma, carrying the five teens. Both vehicles were clocked at speeds surpassing 100 mph when they attempted to pass a slower-moving vehicle.
Police say the Infiniti swerved to dodge a box truck stationed in the emergency lane, resulting in a collision with the Tacoma. The force of the crash hurled the Tacoma over a retaining wall, causing it to plummet 37 feet to the ramp below.
The victims were identified earlier this month as Katy Gaitan, 17, Ashley Gaitan, 16, both from Atlanta; Coral Lorenzo, 17, also from Atlanta; Hung Nguyen, 18, from Lawrenceville; and Abner Santana, 19, from Suwanee.
All three female victims were Lakeside High School students in DeKalb County.
This devastating incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of street racing, an issue that continues to trouble communities across Georgia.
Authorities are asking anyone with further information to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit at pdaccidentinvestigationunit@gwinnettcounty.com or 678.442.5653.
Street Racing in Georgia: Georgia police have seen an uptick in street racing activities, with over 600 arrests related to street racing in the Atlanta area alone in 2022. The Georgia State Patrol also noted that they impounded about 100 cars in connection with street racing in the first quarter of 2023.
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